LS1 XK8!! Looks like its going to happen

[CrusherCurtis]

For a while now I've known I needed a car with a fixed roof. I've got my vert as you know, my TJ, and an R1 that I recently bought almost randomly (never even considered a motorcycle).

little whoring:



Started out wanting a 911 but I'm paying cash and can't afford a 997 C4S without going broke so its out. At this point I'm considering 2 cars

1.E39 M5. The super smart choice. Legendary, 4 dour, should hold value well. While I do love its looks, its kinda cold and all business and looks like a regular e39 to most. We all know how they look:



2. Jaguar xk8 coupe. I know this is a very dumb choice however If I get one it would get an ls1/t56 right away. I wouldn't for a second drive an automatic car and definitely wouldn't want that junk 200 something hp ford/jaguar v8. There is a conversion kit for xk's for the ls1/460le (or whatever its called) but the t56 part might be tricky, but is been done before (no t56 is a deal breaker). What I love about the Xk8 is its insanely British design with the sloping trunk, etype style grill, huge wood slab on the dash and recessed gauges. It shares a platform with the DB7 and what is more right than a British sports car with an american V8? The ls1 can easily reach 400 hp with just intake, exhaust and a tune (according to ls1tech). Seeing as how high mileage xk's can be had for $4k-6k. I'm assuming another $10k could get one running well with an ls1. Here is what I"ve been looking at for the last week:





Molded arden tails and spoiler:


The m5 is the easy and smart choice and one that my brain is telling me to go with. An imola m5 with 20" ACS III's would make me very happy. However my heart is saying ls1'd xk. The inability to make it manual would definitely put it out of the running. I don't have a real job or a wife or kids or anything, so I'm not worried about things like reliability, gas mileage etc.
What does R3V think?

[Holland]

M5 may seem sensible, but remember that maintenance costs kill on them. A swapped Jag might not be as bad as it sounds.

BTW, I saw a XK with old style wire wheels and it looked super good.

[lambo]

Step 1. Take stickers off motorcycle.
Step 2. Sell bike.
Step 3. Buy sedan E30.

[VinniE30]

I don't have a real job or a wife or kids or anything, so I'm not worried about things like reliability, gas mileage etc.
What does R3V think?

lol. What do you mean you don't have a real job? How do you make enough money for this stuff?

[CrusherCurtis]

M5 may seem sensible, but remember that maintenance costs kill on them. A swapped Jag might not be as bad as it sounds.

BTW, I saw a XK with old style wire wheels and it looked super good.

yeah I didn't even think about that. I would just hate to put $20k into a car thats only worth $10k when I get done with it. My e30 already holds that crown. I don't know what the demand is for a ls1 6 speed xk8 coupe.

Step 1. Take stickers off motorcycle.
Step 2. Sell bike.
Step 3. Buy sedan E30.

That's not happening. The stickers have grown on me and I absolutely love riding right now. If I get a sedan it has to be much more spacious and comfortable than an e30.

[SpeicherBimmer]

XKs are extremely sexy, but I just don't know if I would ever buy one. I know you said reliability isn't a concern, but how much time/money are you really willing to put into it? M5 is NICE, but like Holland said, if you M in front of anything the price just goes up. Between the two....M5.

[jasonbk]

why wouldn't you care reliability when you don't have a real job? I'd go for 540i with 6 spd.

If it doesn't have to be a sedan, I'd get clean 964..

[mrsleeve]

OHHHHHHH


I have never thought of a swaped XK now thats an Idea !!!!!!!!

[CrusherCurtis]

why wouldn't you care reliability when you don't have a real job? I'd go for 540i with 6 spd.

If it doesn't have to be a sedan, I'd get clean 964..

Just saying I don't have a daily comment. I don't have to drive x miles to school or work 5 days a week or else. I don't really like e39's in the first place, so if get one it would definitely have to be the M5. 964 is out because it has to be something comfortable without any of the hiccups of an old car. I get more than enough of those with my e30 and Jeep ( All though its a 2000 it feels like a 1980).

OHHHHHHH


I have never thought of a swaped XK now thats an Idea !!!!!!!!

That's what I was thinking. Get some coils and a swap and wouldn't be half bad.

[mrsleeve]

if your going to do the sawp route. Why not go with the LS3 or the big boy LS7,


The little woman has alwasys wanted a XK of that generation. I think we might have a winner on our hands for a future project and mountain road "cruiser" that black one you have posted is sexy as all hell

[CrusherCurtis]

With an LS3 I'd be worried about the cost. I don't think an XK is really worth all that much with a swap. I still do want a 997 so I'll be selling it at some point. The red one pictured actually has an LS6. If the little woman wants one auto, then the kit is $1700 for mechanically and electrical components and Jaguar specialties. They seem pretty legit. They're respected in Jaguar forum, have videos of they're cars running and forum members who have the lsx jags running for over a year.

[DisgustipatedAP1]

For the love of all that is good, DO A SWAPPED JAG. That would be the sexiest fucking swap. Pure class and power. I want one badddd.

[Xat1cZ]

..those Jags aren't that good tho'.. oh yeh with a swap they'll improve alot tho' ... I can take apart the dash in 1min. 12 seconds.. true story... don't know if that's positive or bad tho' since you just have to grab something and pull and the POS falls apart

[stamar]

I always have 2 base cars.

one is a truck it carries lots of stuff. Normally very reliable. An unreliable truck gets the boot fast. Even this ford f150 is reliable.

one is a reasonable commuter car. An e30 barely qualifies as it gets 25 mpg on a perfect day. An accord is perfect.

Now from there branch out to a 911 or something stupid. jaguar, sport bike. 4wd nerd truck. Something really specialized that gets low miles put on it.

Now a fourth car could be another specialized car.

Now often one of the specialized cars takes over one of the practical car spots. For instance my superior nissan truck that never broke down in 4 years, got replaced by a 21 foot toyota dolphin. not because its reasonable, but it does fill the truck spot.

but when you end up with a jeep and a porsche 911 and nothing reasonable you forgot the basics.

[Eric535]

OT...but what suspension and tires are you running on the jeep?